How to Get High Naturally

Best Way to Get High Without Drugs

Drugs, especially psychedelics and hallucinogens, are again getting a great deal of attention from the scientific medical community for producing "High States" (enlightenment experiences) similar to those experienced during meditation. The experience of these states is then profoundly transforming the lives of the subjects and participants. I have seen again and again, the experience of higher states of consciousness achieved spontaneously or during meditation, be the catalyst for changing the lives of those lucky enough to have them. The primary reason behind this change is that such experiences make them aware of the True Non-dual Singular Nature of Reality and thus, propel them on the path of spirituality and love.

Before it starts to sound like I am promoting the use of psychedelics or other such mind altering drugs, I want to say I am not. What I am saying is that, if there is any value to such drugs, it is in the fact that the subject gets a taste of what yoga and meditation have been saying for a long time, that you are not the body, you are not the ego, you are the infinite Oneness in which the game of life and multiplicity is manifesting itself. It is all happening within you. Everything is you and you are All. What could be a greater ecstasy and greater high that having this realization and living it? Thankfully you do not need to take drugs to have this high, all you have to do is meditate.

Highs from Drugs Versus Highs from Meditation

Thankfully the research being conducted today regarding the use of psychedelic drugs and hallucinogen mushrooms in curing serious conditions such as mental illness and depression is being done with a great deal of care and conditions. It is no surprise that the highs and enlightenment experiences being induced upon the participants is radically changing their understanding of Reality and Consciousness. Here is a recent article in the New York Times regarding the findings of such research and some excerpts from that article emphasizing this point.

Below are the experiences of one subject (Dr. Martin) and the subsequent changes he experiences in his life afterwords. Along with his experience from drugs, I also wanted to give you my experience of Emptiness without drug use of course, so you can see the similarities. My experience is available here: Zen Teaching of Emptiness and My Experience With It.

After taking the hallucinogen, Dr. Martin put on an eye mask and headphones, and lay on a couch listening to classical music as he contemplated the universe.

“All of a sudden, everything familiar started evaporating,” he recalled. “Imagine you fall off a boat out in the open ocean, and you turn around, and the boat is gone. And then the water’s gone. And then you’re gone.”

Today, more than a year later, Dr. Martin credits that six-hour experience with helping him overcome his depression and profoundly transforming his relationships with his daughter and friends. He ranks it among the most meaningful events of his life, which makes him a fairly typical member of a growing club of experimental subjects.

In interviews, Dr. Martin and other subjects described their egos and bodies vanishing as they felt part of some larger state of consciousness in which their personal worries and insecurities vanished. They found themselves reviewing past relationships with lovers and relatives with a new sense of empathy.

A doctor conducting such research says:

"Under the influences of hallucinogens,” Dr. Grob writes, “Individuals transcend their primary identification with their bodies and experience ego-free states before the time of their actual physical demise, and return with a new perspective and profound acceptance of the life constant: change.”

Sounds like the Buddha to me, without the hallucinogens part of course .

Good Points of Drug Research for Awakening Consciousness:

There are several positive aspects of this research.

It is going to be used to provide cures for some very serious conditions and illnesses.

The "highs" experienced almost universally have a positive transforming affect on those who participated.

Such evidence, collected under scientific supervision, clearly demonstrates that Reality is not the dualistic experience that the everyday mind is drowning in. It is indeed something far greater and far more. This is something for the Nay sayers to certainly contemplate.

The fact also that the human mind is wired to achieve these states, means nature has placed in us the potential for such realization and awakening. It is just a matter of application on your end, whether of not you want to reach your Highest Potential or not.

Problems with Getting High Using Drugs:

This can be a real long list, but I am going to indicate some of the most problematic aspects of taking drugs for inducing altered states of consciousness.

Addiction, Addiction, Addiction: The common question I get from those having tasted the incredible nature of Enlightenment Experiences and Spiritual Highs, is "How Can I Make it Happen Again?" If it were a matter of drug induced highs, it would be time to pop another mushroom , and we all know where this would end up.

Side Affects: There is plenty of evidence showing the horrific side affects of drug abuse on the brain and body. So aside from getting that one life transforming experience, anything more is trouble in the making.

Bad Trips: Not all people react the same way to drugs and psychedelics. You may very well end up having a bad trip as well. The research being done is thankfully aware of this and do monitor the subjects closely, but there is a very real possibility to increase psychosis or create other mental and physical issues, which originally were not there.

How to Get High Without Drugs:

If you noticed, the positive affects of this research tends to point at the experience being induced by drugs as being the positive catalyst for transformation and cure. So if this same experience, same high, can be achieved naturally and safely with meditation, then is that not the more sensible approach?

Also, with meditation none of the other bad affects are in play. Furthermore, with meditation you are changing in a more permanent way, while with drugs you are just on a temporary trip, from which you are only going to come crashing down once the affects wear off.

Research is actually showing that the brain in states of meditation is very similar to the brain experiencing these drug induced highs. So with meditation you will certainly achieve what you could with drugs, and much much more.

Scientists are especially intrigued by the similarities between hallucinogenic experiences and the life-changing revelations reported throughout history by religious mystics and those who meditate.

So, although in very specific cases, the use of drug induced highs is valuable (under controlled scientific studies for health research or under the watch of a Master Tantric), in general meditation is the much better option.

So if you are looking for ways to get high, experience Nirvana, find Heaven, get Moksha, don’t do drugs, instead…. MEDITATE.

Once I had an interesting experience – during meditation I saw myself from an outside point. I was definitely “high” I felt incredible power and conciousness. I loved it but hasn’t happened since :( I wonder what did I do then?

I have been reading your site for a long time, you are indeed a blessed teacher.

I read this article with interest and would just like to add my comment to the mix. I’ve been a practitioner of kundalini yoga for eight years or so and have been meditating regularly for around the same length of time. I would be a lesser person without my spiritual practices and they define a large part of who I am. However, I am also actively engaged in the ritualistic use of certain natural sacraments. I view this as another aspect of my practice. It is my feeling, through the experiences I have had (and continue to have) with mescaline and ayahuasca particularly, that the two approaches are mutually beneficial, especially when combined with a healthy, active and joyous lifestyle.

Properly used, with great respect and preparation, I have had wonderful, divine and deeply healing experiences with these plant teachers and I believe they were put on the earth for us to discover, to help us awaken, grow and develop in a similar way to yoga. As you may be aware, their ceremonial usage goes back thousands of years and having experienced these medicines in their natural environment with powerful men of ancient knowledge I personally see this combination as a great force for good in the world. I don’t think it is for everyone, but I do think it should be more widely acknowledged that the careful and intelligent use of such natural medicines alongside a deeply spiritual yoga practice can be extremely beneficial.